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Lost Starship #6
The Lost Planet
Last voyage, Captain Maddox entered a distant star system with a Swarm fleet. The sheer numbers were staggering, a 100-1 advantage against all human spacecraft. If the highly aggressive, racist insects gained hyper-spatial tube technology—allowing them to cross a thousand light-years in seconds—it would mean Armageddon for Earth.
Star Watch desperately needs something powerful to offset the annihilating Swarm numbers. As if on cue, Professor Ludendorff declares he has discovered the whereabouts of ancient Builder technology, a tech so potent it could defeat the Swarm.
Star Watch takes the bait, ordering Captain Maddox to find the lost planet holding the ancient technology.
Ludendorff has a plan involving androids to lure his arch rival—Methuselah Man Strand—to his doom.
The crew of Starship Victory knows nothing of this and thus blindly enters a web of intrigue and danger. The captain will need the AI Galyan, Valerie and Riker like never before. Humanity’s hope against the coming Swarm holocaust rests on the outcome.
Star Watch desperately needs something powerful to offset the annihilating Swarm numbers. As if on cue, Professor Ludendorff declares he has discovered the whereabouts of ancient Builder technology, a tech so potent it could defeat the Swarm.
Star Watch takes the bait, ordering Captain Maddox to find the lost planet holding the ancient technology.
Ludendorff has a plan involving androids to lure his arch rival—Methuselah Man Strand—to his doom.
The crew of Starship Victory knows nothing of this and thus blindly enters a web of intrigue and danger. The captain will need the AI Galyan, Valerie and Riker like never before. Humanity’s hope against the coming Swarm holocaust rests on the outcome.
465 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2016
901 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Vaughn Heppner
147 books569 followersYou can visit Vaughn at www.vaughnheppner.com
I was born in Canada and remember as a small boy crawling in my snow-fort. I closed my eyes, and when I tried to open them, they were frozen shut. I didn't panic, but wiped away the ice crystals, unglued my eyes and kept on building my tunnel. Those were great days! I moved to Central California before seventh grade and couldn't believe I lived in a land where oranges grew on trees and you could pick grapes from the vine.
I used to wonder what I wanted to do with my life, what kind of work specifically. I was miserable not knowing and bordering on desperate. Then one day a friend gave me his typewriter. I began working on a novel. A different person told me it was much easier on a computer, so I bought one and began getting up at 4:30 A.M. each morning before work, writing for three hours. My eyes were unglued once again as the pang of misery left my gut. I knew exactly what I wanted to do: write. So now that's what I do, I write, and write, and write, and I love it.
I was born in Canada and remember as a small boy crawling in my snow-fort. I closed my eyes, and when I tried to open them, they were frozen shut. I didn't panic, but wiped away the ice crystals, unglued my eyes and kept on building my tunnel. Those were great days! I moved to Central California before seventh grade and couldn't believe I lived in a land where oranges grew on trees and you could pick grapes from the vine.
I used to wonder what I wanted to do with my life, what kind of work specifically. I was miserable not knowing and bordering on desperate. Then one day a friend gave me his typewriter. I began working on a novel. A different person told me it was much easier on a computer, so I bought one and began getting up at 4:30 A.M. each morning before work, writing for three hours. My eyes were unglued once again as the pang of misery left my gut. I knew exactly what I wanted to do: write. So now that's what I do, I write, and write, and write, and I love it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
June 24, 2021
Very good!
February 28, 2017
Enjoyable reading.
I have always loved reading science fiction but all these Independent writer's have given me many years of great reading in my retirement years. I highly recommend this series and hope it continues.
I have always loved reading science fiction but all these Independent writer's have given me many years of great reading in my retirement years. I highly recommend this series and hope it continues.
January 24, 2017
This series gets better
Again we find Captain Maddox and his crew taking the starship Victory to the outer space. As as expected things go wrong, but Maddox has his own plan.
Again we find Captain Maddox and his crew taking the starship Victory to the outer space. As as expected things go wrong, but Maddox has his own plan.
March 22, 2017
Thank you
Each night for the past few weeks I've looked forward to reading
The Lost Starship series. Boy...that was fun. Thanks, again.
Each night for the past few weeks I've looked forward to reading
The Lost Starship series. Boy...that was fun. Thanks, again.
May 21, 2017
Can't get enough of this adventure packed series. Waiting eagerly for book 7!
March 15, 2017
Good book again Hepnner. Don't keep us in suspense too long. I'm ready to read another one.
March 4, 2017
Another good read
Enjoyed this series and looking forward to reading the next one. If you are looking for something fun this is where it is at!
Enjoyed this series and looking forward to reading the next one. If you are looking for something fun this is where it is at!
March 2, 2017
Captain Maddox a new super hero
Great plot with a lot of action and suspense. This is a strong series with no end in sight. Book 7 coming for sure.
Great plot with a lot of action and suspense. This is a strong series with no end in sight. Book 7 coming for sure.
February 25, 2017
A good transition story
Captain Maddox is back with his crew. A little less awesome than in the past. On a world covered in fungus and confusion this book was more about the crews vulnerabilities and less about fantastic revelations and savy saves. The storyline does get more cohesive between the Methuselah Men, androids, the builders, and the new men however. Every series of books has a key pivoting novel, this may be this series point of redirection.
Captain Maddox is back with his crew. A little less awesome than in the past. On a world covered in fungus and confusion this book was more about the crews vulnerabilities and less about fantastic revelations and savy saves. The storyline does get more cohesive between the Methuselah Men, androids, the builders, and the new men however. Every series of books has a key pivoting novel, this may be this series point of redirection.
February 28, 2017
good
worth the effort and time. A few kinks and turns to the plot. not everything is totally realistic but that's just why we have SF.
worth the effort and time. A few kinks and turns to the plot. not everything is totally realistic but that's just why we have SF.
February 28, 2017
what happens next?
great space yarn. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Congratulations on a great saga of the Galactic future.
great space yarn. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Congratulations on a great saga of the Galactic future.
January 16, 2017
Where's the next book?
Another great tale about Capt. Maddox and the Starship Victory. I hope to read more in this series soon. It looks like there is a good set up for 6 more books. I hope so!!
Another great tale about Capt. Maddox and the Starship Victory. I hope to read more in this series soon. It looks like there is a good set up for 6 more books. I hope so!!
February 9, 2017
Great read!
I normally prefer fantasy to science fiction but can't put down this series. The attention to detail when explaining the scientific advancements that led to space travel mAke this interesting for any techie. Worth the read.
I normally prefer fantasy to science fiction but can't put down this series. The attention to detail when explaining the scientific advancements that led to space travel mAke this interesting for any techie. Worth the read.
February 11, 2017
The series continues
I gave this book 5 stars, as I have given all the books in the series 5 stars. E ach one seems to get better, adding new dimensions as it goes. I look forward to more stories.
I gave this book 5 stars, as I have given all the books in the series 5 stars. E ach one seems to get better, adding new dimensions as it goes. I look forward to more stories.
February 22, 2017
Great series
Please can we your readers have the next book I can not wait to see what happens to one of the oldest humans who is slowly losing his balance of mind, has Rose infected his mind.
David
Please can we your readers have the next book I can not wait to see what happens to one of the oldest humans who is slowly losing his balance of mind, has Rose infected his mind.
David
February 23, 2017
Great imagination!
Heppner is a master of action and imagination. He has created multiple worlds with fascinating creatures. Maddox is the ultimate warrior with a team that show individuality . My only request is a little more sex....the ultimate spice!
Heppner is a master of action and imagination. He has created multiple worlds with fascinating creatures. Maddox is the ultimate warrior with a team that show individuality . My only request is a little more sex....the ultimate spice!
February 3, 2017
As good as the rest.
As with all in the lost starship series, they hold you til the end. Can't wait for the next one.
As with all in the lost starship series, they hold you til the end. Can't wait for the next one.
February 3, 2017
A good read
Probably the best book yet in this series ,the story is going from strength to strength can't wait for the next one .
Probably the best book yet in this series ,the story is going from strength to strength can't wait for the next one .
February 10, 2017
Marvelous
Again Vaughn has captured the imagination of his readers. I have been a fan of the series from the beginning and hope for the continuation of the series. Great writing.
Again Vaughn has captured the imagination of his readers. I have been a fan of the series from the beginning and hope for the continuation of the series. Great writing.
February 12, 2019
The sixth entry of author Vaughn Heppner’s Lost Starship series follows the main protagonist, Captain Maddox, immediately thrust into action, still seeking answers to his parentage, Riker coming to his rescue when he finds himself in trouble. This entry continues to use the twist that certain important individuals are actually androids, with a general distrust of characters such as the antediluvian Methuselah Man Professor Ludendorff. Light-years away, another aged character, Strand, conspires vengeance against the Professor and another entity known as the Golden Ural aboard his ship, Argo, which quickly finds itself under attack.
Strand boards a rival ship, the Silver Tangier, which he seeks to secure, finding and oftentimes torturing an android named Rose. Back to Maddox and companions, Valerie and Keith enjoy their recreational time and ponder a relationship, with Dr. Dana Rich giving relationship advice to the former. Most of the book’s action occurs on an entity known as the Junkyard Planet, its real name Sind, which could have been an outpost of the ancient Builders, and where the crew of the Victory seeks a place called the Hall of Mirrors in the planet’s Southern Pole Region.
A tribe of cannibals known as the Vendels serves as the novel’s secondary antagonists, with Maddox and his companions needing to deal with them at times. Meanwhile, spaceships known as Juggernauts threaten the Victory in the world’s orbit, with Valerie controlling the Adok vessel in the Captain’s absence. The book gives a little backstory of the Vendels, noting that they are generally apathetic towards science, not to mention Maddox himself, particularly when he was still in grade school and discovered by Star Watch, with the Captain and his allies stuck in Sind’s underworld for much of the story’s latter events.
The narrative concludes with an alien intelligence similar to Galyan aboard the Victory named Sistine la Mort playing a role against the Rull Juggernauts and Argo, accounting for a generally-satisfying story very much on par with its predecessors. As mentioned, however, the plot twist of important characters actually being androids continues to play part, although mercifully only in the book’s earlier events, and there is some confusion about the governments of the Swarm Imperium and the New Men. Regardless, this reviewer would very much recommend this science-fiction yarn to fans of the genre, though he would suggest prospective readers start from the series’ beginning.
Strand boards a rival ship, the Silver Tangier, which he seeks to secure, finding and oftentimes torturing an android named Rose. Back to Maddox and companions, Valerie and Keith enjoy their recreational time and ponder a relationship, with Dr. Dana Rich giving relationship advice to the former. Most of the book’s action occurs on an entity known as the Junkyard Planet, its real name Sind, which could have been an outpost of the ancient Builders, and where the crew of the Victory seeks a place called the Hall of Mirrors in the planet’s Southern Pole Region.
A tribe of cannibals known as the Vendels serves as the novel’s secondary antagonists, with Maddox and his companions needing to deal with them at times. Meanwhile, spaceships known as Juggernauts threaten the Victory in the world’s orbit, with Valerie controlling the Adok vessel in the Captain’s absence. The book gives a little backstory of the Vendels, noting that they are generally apathetic towards science, not to mention Maddox himself, particularly when he was still in grade school and discovered by Star Watch, with the Captain and his allies stuck in Sind’s underworld for much of the story’s latter events.
The narrative concludes with an alien intelligence similar to Galyan aboard the Victory named Sistine la Mort playing a role against the Rull Juggernauts and Argo, accounting for a generally-satisfying story very much on par with its predecessors. As mentioned, however, the plot twist of important characters actually being androids continues to play part, although mercifully only in the book’s earlier events, and there is some confusion about the governments of the Swarm Imperium and the New Men. Regardless, this reviewer would very much recommend this science-fiction yarn to fans of the genre, though he would suggest prospective readers start from the series’ beginning.
July 4, 2017
Disclaimer: I'm a Vaughn Heppner fan. I drank the Kool-Aid and read a huge number of his books. How did The Lost Starship Series get on its sixth novel anyway? Must be magic. Regardless, in this episode, installment, whatever, "The Lost Planet," Captain Maddox takes on what may be his most thankless assignment ever. Oh sure, he encountered the Swarm in the last book and tested the might of its countless vessels of destruction that will surely turn every outpost of humanity into a cinder. But this time, he's got to juggle the combined difficulties of Professor Ludendorff and the other Builder-enhanced man who has lived hundreds of years and gathered all sorts of intelligence. This other guy is Strand. And he's gotten help from an android, who belongs to a group of androids Maddox has been fighting for some time. Ludendorff leads them to a planet in uncharted space. It's been bombed into oblivion and its atmosphere poisoned. The original inhabitants have been turned into mindless killers. Maddox and his team want to recover a Builder relic that will help them determine when the Swarm will attack human space. But it's buried somewhere on this planet of death. In the meantime, enemy vessels set out to attack Maddox's ship and Strand has his own devious strategies. The plot unfolds with Maddox in as difficult a situation as he's ever been. Yet, he must somehow find a way out. Otherwise all is lost. Great book. Great read. Excellent battles.
March 26, 2019
Fun frolic through space
Probably more than usual number of plot threads left open, with no meaningful attempt to even cluster them for solution later. Same formula playing out.
-Maddox gets in trouble
-Maddox remembers he is special
-Maddox outwits/outmuscled/outperforms someone
-Maddox doubles down on some insane gamble
-Maddox gamble pays off with highly unusual, previously unintroduced, super powered alien coming to rescue
-Maddox makes some stupid, leap of faith, decision, to let a dangerous enemy get away, in the hopes that they will change character and come back to help later in the future.
Fun writing, speedy movement, but the same formula, and largely unresolved side threads. And very few of the older ones being pulled back into sight. So god knows if the series will ever close every door that it opened.
Probably more than usual number of plot threads left open, with no meaningful attempt to even cluster them for solution later. Same formula playing out.
-Maddox gets in trouble
-Maddox remembers he is special
-Maddox outwits/outmuscled/outperforms someone
-Maddox doubles down on some insane gamble
-Maddox gamble pays off with highly unusual, previously unintroduced, super powered alien coming to rescue
-Maddox makes some stupid, leap of faith, decision, to let a dangerous enemy get away, in the hopes that they will change character and come back to help later in the future.
Fun writing, speedy movement, but the same formula, and largely unresolved side threads. And very few of the older ones being pulled back into sight. So god knows if the series will ever close every door that it opened.
December 25, 2017
Bad stuff
I couldn't finish it. The book like most of his isn't really a science fiction adventure. It's an ode to the awesomeness of white males everywhere. His inner race warrior is on full display.
An Indian doctor is described as "dot not feather", on page 79. My mistake to expect anything more, since he has barely more self control in the previous books. Reading for free on kindle has allowed me to try a number of writers of whom I'd been suspicious and I will avoid him in the future.
Unless you enjoy the twisted work of John ringo and other Fox faves this guy is a waste of time.
I couldn't finish it. The book like most of his isn't really a science fiction adventure. It's an ode to the awesomeness of white males everywhere. His inner race warrior is on full display.
An Indian doctor is described as "dot not feather", on page 79. My mistake to expect anything more, since he has barely more self control in the previous books. Reading for free on kindle has allowed me to try a number of writers of whom I'd been suspicious and I will avoid him in the future.
Unless you enjoy the twisted work of John ringo and other Fox faves this guy is a waste of time.
June 7, 2025
I am finding it harder to write a review in this series without heading into spoiler territory and still saying anything meaningful, so, I'll avoid spoiling this book but no promises on earlier books. That said, I enjoyed this book as much as the previous ones! Each installment is packed, seemingly, with more excitement than the last, this one seemed like it was almost nonstop action. I like that this story didn't rely entirely on the old cast, but brought in new things to make the galaxy feel bigger and keep bringing more adventure into our heroes stories.
July 1, 2017
Excellent series, very good character development, what's not to like? Waiting for the next book. The good news is the wait is worth it.
I have been following Captain Maddox for years now. The story is both compelling and entertaining. The characters are fascinating to watch, the depth of new characters truly enriching the reading experience. Thank you Vaughn Heppner for such a wonderfully engaging story!
I have been following Captain Maddox for years now. The story is both compelling and entertaining. The characters are fascinating to watch, the depth of new characters truly enriching the reading experience. Thank you Vaughn Heppner for such a wonderfully engaging story!
October 3, 2018
Exciting story line keeps on going!
Machiavelli would have found some of the characters to be kindred spirits! Plots within plots at every turn. Between the Spacers, New Men, android factions and of course the opposing Methuselah Men I'd say (tongue in cheek) that it's getting to the point where you need a program to keep it all straight! 😁
Machiavelli would have found some of the characters to be kindred spirits! Plots within plots at every turn. Between the Spacers, New Men, android factions and of course the opposing Methuselah Men I'd say (tongue in cheek) that it's getting to the point where you need a program to keep it all straight! 😁
April 27, 2019
Absolute best of the series so far
Omg, I was crying and so worried at times reading this book. I couldn't sleep at night stressing about what might happen. This has been an exceptional series and as of this writing this particular book in the series are been an emotional rollercoaster.
Omg, I was crying and so worried at times reading this book. I couldn't sleep at night stressing about what might happen. This has been an exceptional series and as of this writing this particular book in the series are been an emotional rollercoaster.
May 11, 2017
Great read, enjoyed the continuation of the story
I almost always enjoy Vaughn Heppners stories, and this was no exception. Good writing, good pacing, and great character development.
I almost always enjoy Vaughn Heppners stories, and this was no exception. Good writing, good pacing, and great character development.
May 26, 2017
From Beyond to Beyond
To learn how mankined can surive just being wiped out by the swarm Maddox must team up with some of his enemy's to find an early Waring system and do it while fighting for his life against some 8ft. Cannibalize.
To learn how mankined can surive just being wiped out by the swarm Maddox must team up with some of his enemy's to find an early Waring system and do it while fighting for his life against some 8ft. Cannibalize.
March 20, 2018
High adventure in a ruined world
A nightmarish world to search, but the nightmares are numerous. Then there is Strand. They should have killed,and in the real world, I think he would have been dead already.
A nightmarish world to search, but the nightmares are numerous. Then there is Strand. They should have killed,and in the real world, I think he would have been dead already.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews